California organisations and legislators gathered in Los Angeles to highlight the role of the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program, which provides added purchasing power for households receiving CalFresh benefits. The event took place at Mother's Nutritional Center on November 24, following the restoration of federal SNAP funding.
Senator Laura Richardson said that "with 20 per cent of California families, including children, seniors, and those with chronic health conditions, experiencing food insecurity on a daily basis, expanding access to healthy food is not just a policy priority, it is a moral obligation." She added that rising grocery prices push many households toward low-cost processed foods, and that the initiative helps make fresh produce accessible.
Richardson, Senator Scott Wiener, and Assemblymember Alex Lee secured US$36 million in new funding for the program this year, 3.5 times more than in previous years. This allows CalFresh users to earn up to US$60 per month in additional benefits through dollar-for-dollar rebates when purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables at participating outlets.
Assemblymember Lee said, "The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is a lifeline for Californians who live paycheck to paycheck to access healthy food. By relaunching the program, we are providing critical relief for people hit hard by the Republican federal government shutdown."
In Southern California, 82 Mother's Nutritional Center stores and the Crenshaw Farmers' Market participate in the programme. In Northern California, nine participating stores across Arteaga's Food Center, Harvest Market, and Santa Fe Foods offer the benefits.
Eli Zigas of Fullwell stated that renewed funding supports both low-income households and local supply chains. "This effective and efficient program is not just a win for CalFresh families, it's also a smart investment in our farmers, our local economies, and the overall health and well-being of our communities."
Betzabel Estudillo from Nourish California said the program restart is timely, given delays in November SNAP benefits and rising food prices. Richard Flores, president of Mother's Nutritional Center, said the programme "directly supports the families we see in our stores every day, giving them the ability to stretch their benefits and bring home more fresh, healthy foods."
Joe Prickitt of the UC San Diego Center for Community Health's Food is Medicine Unit said the programme strengthens household food access, supports grocery retailers, and contributes to sales of California-grown produce. He noted that CalFresh remains an important mechanism for economic stability in low-income areas.
Source: LA Sentinel
